"It is a lovely manor, eclectic without seeming to put on airs, and cosy besides, but, as you say we do need books, and several of them. I know not this Fistandia, her disposition or whether she be alive or dead -- do you think we are likely to find the books we seek here, and that we are not trespassing?"
Erudusiacannot help but feel like they are on the cusp of burglary, and while her more wizardly companions might finds some magical tome worth their while in this extra-dimensional noble-by-office-alone small manor, she doubts there is anything here for her.
"If you need to explore it more, I doubt we can know, but you can return here after our ten-day surely? It is not something to be done in three days alone, and we are so close to the end of our allotted period."
All: since the portal has closed, please post in spoilers since not everyone knows what everyone is doing. You can open the spoilers of characters in the same room as you.
"We are sorry for entering your private research room but, you have been missing for 3 days... and our ten day is running out, " Bell was still scanning book titles as she spoke.
"We kind of stumbled upon your discovery and that's how we got here -- looking for you and hoping for more time."
Bell turned to regard the others in the room and her face suddenly turned even more pale than normal. Words were stuck in her throat as she pointed a shakey finger at where the portal once was.
"We are sorry for entering your private research room but, you have been missing for 3 days... and our ten day is running out, " Bell was still scanning book titles as she spoke.
"We kind of stumbled upon your discovery and that's how we got here -- looking for you and hoping for more time."
Matreus offers further apologies. “I had been researching the origin of this magic portal for almost two months and discovered the secret soon after your arrival. My erm, wife always used to tell me I lose track of time too easily!” He looks quite embarrassed.
Bell turned to regard the others in the room and her face suddenly turned even more pale than normal. Words were stuck in her throat as she pointed a shakey finger at where the portal once was.
Meredith just kind of nodded along as the others spoke so much better than she ever could.
She followed Bells finger but wasn't overly worried, surely Matreus could open it from this side.....he'd just lost track of time is all.
Matreus notices Bell’s gesture and follows Meredith’s glance to the mansion’s front door, now closed and not glowing, but before another moment passes, the portal dilates open again. Matreus’ glance flashes to each of you, then he tries to peer through the portal, although its blurring effect makes Rogi almost invisible in the dim lamplight of the study room.
“Somevun else is in my study room too and knows the command? A friend of yours? Oh, erm, Rogi?” he frowns but assuming you agree that Rogi is out there, Matreus sighs and shakes his head in remorse, returning to the question of your lost time. “I will speak on your behalf to the Keeper of Tomes. It is my fault.”
"It is a lovely manor, eclectic without seeming to put on airs, and cosy besides, but, as you say we do need books, and several of them. I know not this Fistandia, her disposition or whether she be alive or dead -- do you think we are likely to find the books we seek here, and that we are not trespassing?"
Erudusiacannot help but feel like they are on the cusp of burglary, and while her more wizardly companions might finds some magical tome worth their while in this extra-dimensional noble-by-office-alone small manor, she doubts there is anything here for her.
"If you need to explore it more, I doubt we can know, but you can return here after our ten-day surely? It is not something to be done in three days alone, and we are so close to the end of our allotted period."
Matreus’ inquisitiveness surpasses his embarrassment as he tries to answer Erudisia’s questions. “Fistandia passed away several years ago, may Lothander brighten her soul. You see, the books vehr donated to Candlekeep as she instructed in her last will. Zoh, I think her Intent vuz for all of these to be donated as part of that too,” he says, gesturing with the bookend to encompass the wall of books.
“It’s not that it would take so long to explore... If this is a casting of Mordenkainen’s spell, then the mansion is only so big. It might only take a few hours. But no, you are correct. I haven’t gone beyond zis room yet. I was distracted by and curious to read what is here. Ouch!” He suddenly recoils, dropping the bookend and grasping his hand, where you see a big red dot of blood forming on one finger. A mere second later, the old man crumples to the floor, eyes rolling back in his head. At the same moment, you notice that the dropped bookend, which is shaped rather like a gargoyle, has come alive! It has now transformed into a living, breathing, brick red, leathery-winged imp! The tiny monster’s diamond-hard red eyes shine evilly, an oily little laugh hisses through its sharp little teeth, as it croaks, "I'm free at last!!," and it aims its pointed, poison-dripping tail directly at you!
Please roll Initiative!
Rogi:
You utter the triggering word, and the portal opens up again a brief moment after it closes. Nothing inside seems to have changed, although it is almost impossible to tell through the fogged glass effect. But your passive Perception of 13 is enough to mark a grunt of pain from Matreus a few moments later, and he seems to disappear or fall to the ground.
At Initiative 20, an alarm goes off! Sound erupts from a garden gnome statue in the corner. Steam blows out of its ears like a boiling kettle, its pointy hat clacks on its head, its big doll eyes turn left and right, and an extended finger wags “No, no!” as its high-pitched screeching pierces the air. Simultaneously, a heavy, 10-foot long crossbeam drifts down from the ceiling near the entrance while the doors, flashing red, swivel toward closing.
The imp, also seeing the doors closing, utters foul-mouthed little curses in Infernal, then turns invisible! All three of you feel the air whip around you as it flaps and flits, diving threateningly over your heads and making evasive circles until, if the sound of its snickering is any indication, it darts toward the portal. You can still hear it flapping just short of the portal where perhaps it must dodge the flying crossbeam.
Meredith, and Erudisia may take their turns first, then Bell!
(The Imp is invisible, perhaps 20’ from where you three are standing. Matreus lies beside you, prone and unconscious.)
Rogi:
Rogi hears a distant sound like a tea kettle blowing on the other side of the portal in the mansion parlor and the doors begin glowing red and swinging shut much earlier than before. Something is descending from the ceiling to block the doors. Saying “scepter” has no effect! You have a split-second decision: rush through the door or let it close.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Meredith hadn't thought to bring her bow with her but she did have a small knife she usually used for trimming or cutting fruit and threw it at the invisible creature.
Bell hears Meredith yell at her and grabs her water flask. With a sweeping arc, Bell will spray her water flask in the hopes of hitting the invisible imp.
Erudisia splays one hand out in the direction of the last sensed direction of the imp. Her amulet grows cold on her chest as she seeks to turn the wind of its flight back on it, casting a Gust to drive it up and into the cross beam as it rushes toward the portal. [Strength Save DC: 13].
She moves towards Matreus’ body, looking to see if he is still breathing and to apologise for her coarse language if so. On seeing Rogi, she shouts to hail him.
“We must get Matreus out before the portal closes!”
Meredith hadn't thought to bring her bow with her but she did have a small knife she usually used for trimming or cutting fruit and threw it at the invisible creature.
She looked across to the others, " Get It, Bell!"
BA- Bardic Inspiration 1d6 to Bell.
Attack- Attack: 8 Damage: 5 ( Disadvantage)
All:
Meredith’s knife whirls through the air just after the imp strafes overhead, but the knife misses its target, thunking instead into a wall next to one of the tall windows.
Bell hears Meredith yell at her and grabs her water flask. With a sweeping arc, Bell will spray her water flask in the hopes of hitting the invisible imp.
Bell (I am ruling) can only spray water from her flask 10’. Since she starts the turn 20’ away from the imp, Bell moves 10’ closer to the portal before spraying water where she thinks she hears the imp.
This is an area effect attack, but I’ll allow Meredith’s bardic inspiration to make it “better” (i.e., harder for the imp to escape). The imp rolls a DEX save to avoid being splattered. Thanks to bardic inspiration, it fails! Although the water disappears at the moment when it strikes the imp, a second or two click past during which the creature’s negative image — the space where no water is getting past because it strikes the imp — is outlined.
Erudisia splays one hand out in the direction of the last sensed direction of the imp. Her amulet grows cold on her chest as she seeks to turn the wind of its flight back on it, casting a Gust to drive it up and into the cross beam as it rushes toward the portal. [Strength Save DC: 13].
She moves towards Matreus’ body, looking to see if he is still breathing and to apologise for her coarse language if so. On seeing Rogi, she shouts to hail him.
“We must get Matreus out before the portal closes!”
Bell's flask spray allows Erudisia -- even though she can’t see the imp itself -- to see the exact location of the imp when she casts her Gust spell. Success! The little demon is pushed 5’ away from Erudisia! Does the crossbeam hit it? Hmmm… the crossbeam is a moving target, so to blow the imp into its path, Erudisia must make an attack roll, adding her spell attack bonus. A hit means the imp will take 1d6 bludgeoning damage, which Erudisia should also roll.
An unexpected side effect however, (or perhaps, expected?) is that the gust pushes the imp even closer to its goal of escape, and the vile little creature shoots into the portal just before it closes.
Erudisia finds Matreus limp and unresponsive. An action will need to be spent making a Medicine check to find out more.
Rogi rushes through the portal, readying his shield at the same time.
At the same moment that the imp shoots into the portal, Rogi comes out of the portal in the opposite direction, shield raised. The two collide. The tiny invisible imp, hopelessly outsized, rebounds off of Rogi's shield back into the parlor. No one sees it rebound back into the parlor -- Rogi feels nothing more than a wet thump on his shield -- but the presence of the imp's renewed Infernal cussing is a dead giveaway to its continuing presence.
But there's hardly time to process this fact before, not a moment later, the magical doors slam shut and the crossbeam locks into place with a crunch immediately behind Rogi, who now stands just inside the parlor.
Vexed, the imp now attacks its closest enemy: Rogi. From out of nowhere, the previously invisible, little brick red, horned creature suddenly appears in the air above and behind Rogi, a mere split second before the imp’s stinger jerks toward the artificer’s exposed neck! (17 to hit. If that hits, Rogi, take 4HP piercing damage and make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw, taking 10 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.)
(Erudisia, please roll the round 1 attack I described above.)
(Rogi, you can’t act yet, but what was the result of the imp’s attack?)
(In terms of what happens next for Erudisia, she doesn’t have proficiency in medicine. Does anyone/ should she do the medicine check on her next turn?)
(In terms of what happens next for Erudisia, she doesn’t have proficiency in medicine. Does anyone/ should she do the medicine check on her next turn?)
(Erudisia, I had meant to give you inspiration for the nifty flying crossbeam attack (which missed). I’m giving you inspiration post facto on your next action.)
The garden gnome alarm continues. Rogi, this was the teakettle sound you heard before through the portal. Now you see and clearly hear as steam blows out of the ears of a garden gnome statue in the corner, its pointy hat clacks on its head, its big doll eyes turn left and right, and an extended finger wags “No, no!” as its high-pitched screeching pierces the air.
We are in Round 2.
The imp is now visible, engaged with (behind) Rogi.
Meredith and Erudisia may now take their turns for round 2.
"It is a lovely manor, eclectic without seeming to put on airs, and cosy besides, but, as you say we do need books, and several of them. I know not this Fistandia, her disposition or whether she be alive or dead -- do you think we are likely to find the books we seek here, and that we are not trespassing?"
Erudusia cannot help but feel like they are on the cusp of burglary, and while her more wizardly companions might finds some magical tome worth their while in this extra-dimensional noble-by-office-alone small manor, she doubts there is anything here for her.
"If you need to explore it more, I doubt we can know, but you can return here after our ten-day surely? It is not something to be done in three days alone, and we are so close to the end of our allotted period."
All: since the portal has closed, please post in spoilers since not everyone knows what everyone is doing. You can open the spoilers of characters in the same room as you.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Since there seemed to be nothing bad going on on the other side, Rogi opened the dimensional door again, but remained outside.
"We are sorry for entering your private research room but, you have been missing for 3 days... and our ten day is running out, " Bell was still scanning book titles as she spoke.
"We kind of stumbled upon your discovery and that's how we got here -- looking for you and hoping for more time."
Bell turned to regard the others in the room and her face suddenly turned even more pale than normal. Words were stuck in her throat as she pointed a shakey finger at where the portal once was.
Meredith just kind of nodded along as the others spoke so much better than she ever could.
She followed Bells finger but wasn't overly worried, surely Matreus could open it from this side.....he'd just lost track of time is all.
Erudisia, Bell & Meredith:
Matreus offers further apologies. “I had been researching the origin of this magic portal for almost two months and discovered the secret soon after your arrival. My erm, wife always used to tell me I lose track of time too easily!” He looks quite embarrassed.
Matreus notices Bell’s gesture and follows Meredith’s glance to the mansion’s front door, now closed and not glowing, but before another moment passes, the portal dilates open again. Matreus’ glance flashes to each of you, then he tries to peer through the portal, although its blurring effect makes Rogi almost invisible in the dim lamplight of the study room.
“Somevun else is in my study room too and knows the command? A friend of yours? Oh, erm, Rogi?” he frowns but assuming you agree that Rogi is out there, Matreus sighs and shakes his head in remorse, returning to the question of your lost time. “I will speak on your behalf to the Keeper of Tomes. It is my fault.”
Matreus’ inquisitiveness surpasses his embarrassment as he tries to answer Erudisia’s questions. “Fistandia passed away several years ago, may Lothander brighten her soul. You see, the books vehr donated to Candlekeep as she instructed in her last will. Zoh, I think her Intent vuz for all of these to be donated as part of that too,” he says, gesturing with the bookend to encompass the wall of books.
“It’s not that it would take so long to explore... If this is a casting of Mordenkainen’s spell, then the mansion is only so big. It might only take a few hours. But no, you are correct. I haven’t gone beyond zis room yet. I was distracted by and curious to read what is here. Ouch!” He suddenly recoils, dropping the bookend and grasping his hand, where you see a big red dot of blood forming on one finger. A mere second later, the old man crumples to the floor, eyes rolling back in his head. At the same moment, you notice that the dropped bookend, which is shaped rather like a gargoyle, has come alive! It has now transformed into a living, breathing, brick red, leathery-winged imp! The tiny monster’s diamond-hard red eyes shine evilly, an oily little laugh hisses through its sharp little teeth, as it croaks, "I'm free at last!!," and it aims its pointed, poison-dripping tail directly at you!
Please roll Initiative!
Rogi:
You utter the triggering word, and the portal opens up again a brief moment after it closes. Nothing inside seems to have changed, although it is almost impossible to tell through the fogged glass effect. But your passive Perception of 13 is enough to mark a grunt of pain from Matreus a few moments later, and he seems to disappear or fall to the ground.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
{game log} Bell Initiative: 10
Meredith Initiative- 13
Erudisia Initiative: 15
Erudisia, Bell & Meredith:
At Initiative 20, an alarm goes off! Sound erupts from a garden gnome statue in the corner. Steam blows out of its ears like a boiling kettle, its pointy hat clacks on its head, its big doll eyes turn left and right, and an extended finger wags “No, no!” as its high-pitched screeching pierces the air. Simultaneously, a heavy, 10-foot long crossbeam drifts down from the ceiling near the entrance while the doors, flashing red, swivel toward closing.
The imp, also seeing the doors closing, utters foul-mouthed little curses in Infernal, then turns invisible! All three of you feel the air whip around you as it flaps and flits, diving threateningly over your heads and making evasive circles until, if the sound of its snickering is any indication, it darts toward the portal. You can still hear it flapping just short of the portal where perhaps it must dodge the flying crossbeam.
Meredith, and Erudisia may take their turns first, then Bell!
(The Imp is invisible, perhaps 20’ from where you three are standing. Matreus lies beside you, prone and unconscious.)
Rogi:
Rogi hears a distant sound like a tea kettle blowing on the other side of the portal in the mansion parlor and the doors begin glowing red and swinging shut much earlier than before. Something is descending from the ceiling to block the doors. Saying “scepter” has no effect! You have a split-second decision: rush through the door or let it close.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Rogi rushes through the portal, readying his shield at the same time.
Meredith hadn't thought to bring her bow with her but she did have a small knife she usually used for trimming or cutting fruit and threw it at the invisible creature.
She looked across to the others, " Get It, Bell!"
BA- Bardic Inspiration 1d6 to Bell.
Attack- Attack: 15 Damage: 2 ( Disadvantage)
Bell hears Meredith yell at her and grabs her water flask. With a sweeping arc, Bell will spray her water flask in the hopes of hitting the invisible imp.
{game log} Attack: 8 + Bardic Inspiration (5) = 13
“You gnittering troll-botherer!”
Erudisia splays one hand out in the direction of the last sensed direction of the imp. Her amulet grows cold on her chest as she seeks to turn the wind of its flight back on it, casting a Gust to drive it up and into the cross beam as it rushes toward the portal. [Strength Save DC: 13].
She moves towards Matreus’ body, looking to see if he is still breathing and to apologise for her coarse language if so. On seeing Rogi, she shouts to hail him.
“We must get Matreus out before the portal closes!”
All:
Meredith’s knife whirls through the air just after the imp strafes overhead, but the knife misses its target, thunking instead into a wall next to one of the tall windows.
Bell (I am ruling) can only spray water from her flask 10’. Since she starts the turn 20’ away from the imp, Bell moves 10’ closer to the portal before spraying water where she thinks she hears the imp.
This is an area effect attack, but I’ll allow Meredith’s bardic inspiration to make it “better” (i.e., harder for the imp to escape). The imp rolls a DEX save to avoid being splattered. Thanks to bardic inspiration, it fails! Although the water disappears at the moment when it strikes the imp, a second or two click past during which the creature’s negative image — the space where no water is getting past because it strikes the imp — is outlined.
Bell's flask spray allows Erudisia -- even though she can’t see the imp itself -- to see the exact location of the imp when she casts her Gust spell. Success! The little demon is pushed 5’ away from Erudisia! Does the crossbeam hit it? Hmmm… the crossbeam is a moving target, so to blow the imp into its path, Erudisia must make an attack roll, adding her spell attack bonus. A hit means the imp will take 1d6 bludgeoning damage, which Erudisia should also roll.
An unexpected side effect however, (or perhaps, expected?) is that the gust pushes the imp even closer to its goal of escape, and the vile little creature shoots into the portal just before it closes.
Erudisia finds Matreus limp and unresponsive. An action will need to be spent making a Medicine check to find out more.
At the same moment that the imp shoots into the portal, Rogi comes out of the portal in the opposite direction, shield raised. The two collide. The tiny invisible imp, hopelessly outsized, rebounds off of Rogi's shield back into the parlor. No one sees it rebound back into the parlor -- Rogi feels nothing more than a wet thump on his shield -- but the presence of the imp's renewed Infernal cussing is a dead giveaway to its continuing presence.
But there's hardly time to process this fact before, not a moment later, the magical doors slam shut and the crossbeam locks into place with a crunch immediately behind Rogi, who now stands just inside the parlor.
Vexed, the imp now attacks its closest enemy: Rogi. From out of nowhere, the previously invisible, little brick red, horned creature suddenly appears in the air above and behind Rogi, a mere split second before the imp’s stinger jerks toward the artificer’s exposed neck! (17 to hit. If that hits, Rogi, take 4HP piercing damage and make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw, taking 10 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.)
(Erudisia, please roll the round 1 attack I described above.)
(Rogi, you can’t act yet, but what was the result of the imp’s attack?)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
(Attack roll: 8. Damage roll: 4 bludgeoning).
(In terms of what happens next for Erudisia, she doesn’t have proficiency in medicine. Does anyone/ should she do the medicine check on her next turn?)
(Rogi has 18 AC so the attack misses)
Thank you & Thank you.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
(Erudisia, I had meant to give you inspiration for the nifty flying crossbeam attack (which missed). I’m giving you inspiration post facto on your next action.)
The garden gnome alarm continues. Rogi, this was the teakettle sound you heard before through the portal. Now you see and clearly hear as steam blows out of the ears of a garden gnome statue in the corner, its pointy hat clacks on its head, its big doll eyes turn left and right, and an extended finger wags “No, no!” as its high-pitched screeching pierces the air.
We are in Round 2.
The imp is now visible, engaged with (behind) Rogi.
Meredith and Erudisia may now take their turns for round 2.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Meredith ran up to try and boot the imp in the head.
Attack: 14 Damage: 1